Starting-rheostat.



No. 822,290 PATENTHD JUNE 5, 1906.

' D. MILLER.

STARTING RHEOSTAT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1 904.

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PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

MILLER; STAR?.

;NG RHEOSTAT. APPLIGATEQN FILED NovJz, 1904.

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DAVID MILLER, OF SOHENEOIADY, NEWT YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEIT YORK.

STARTING-RHOSTAT- ne. ceased Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented :rune 5, 190e.

Application led November 29,1904. Serial No. 234,760-

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Its it known that I, DAVID MILLER, a 'citizen ol the United States, residing at Schenectady, county oi. Schenectady, State ci New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starting-Rheostats, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to starting-rheostate for controlling electric motors, and has for its object the iieiprovenient of the switch mechanism, by which a better contact may be efiected and with greater ease of manipulation.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation oi a starter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a pian view thereof. F ig. 3 is a section taken approximately on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Figs is a side elevation, partly in section, of a modified form. Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately on the line 6 6, Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuits.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a slate base mounted upon resistance-bor; 2, inclosing resistance 3 and having its Sides perforated, as shown, to ermit a circulation of air there'- through. switoh-leverris -ivotas ymounted at 5 in the bracket 6, bo ted to the base, and a spring 7 tends to torce the lever away from the base. Clips 8 9, &c., are secured to the base by a threaded portion and by nuts which serve as binding-screws for the terminals 1611,&c., oi resistance 3. The particular method of connecting up this resistance is no part Voi my invention. Therefore let it sutlice to say that when lever 4 is in engagement withv clip 8 the entire vresistance is in circuit and that as the lever contacts With the successive clips sections of resistance are out out until contact is iinally made with shortcircuiting clip 12,,vhen all resistance is cut out.

Secured to the opposite side of the base vfrom the lever is an electromagnet 13, which acts upon an armature 14, having a portion which passes through the slate base, is bent at right angles, and pivoted at in brackets mounted on the base. lldpunted upon the bent portion of the arm, but insulated therefrom, is a bent strip forming one side oi clip 12, which thereby constitutes this bent strip, and armature 14 a lever ulcrumed at 15. A spring 16, adjustable by means of thumb-nut 18 and rod 17, mounted in brackets 19, tends to Withdraw the armature from the magnet when the latter is demagnetized, and thereby spread the jaws of clip 12. Connection is made between the line and clip 12 through a flexible strip 20 and also through fixed connecting-bar 21.

In Figs. '-1, 5, and 6, I have shown a modification whereby the switch-lever mayv be locked and released in any position thereof. In this form the contact-cli s consist of the laminated contacts 22 23, c., forming one side of the clip, and a metallic contact-bar 24, secured, by means of brackets 25, to contact-base 26, forming the other. nated contacts are mounted on and insulated from rocking bar 27, pivoted in an adjustable bearing in brackets 28 and 29. Bar 27 is .bent at right angles to form the armature 'for' electromagnet 30, mounted in contact-base 26. Y A spring 31 between said base and the armature end of bar 27 tends to rock the bar to release the switch-blade upon the demagnetization ofthe magnet.

In Fig. 7 is shown a diagram ofthe circuits. Armature A ofthe motor is connected across leads 32 33, through Wires 34 and 35, through the rheostat R and line 36, while the field F is shunted across 'from wire 34 to terminal of line 36. The magnet-coil C is connected in series with the field, as shown. 37 is a switch for making and breaking the circuit.

The operation of my device is very clear from the above description. The electromagnet locks the 'switch-lever in position, and upon the failure 'of voltage in the circuit the lever is released and the spring 7 forces the lever toan open position..

' W'hat I claim as new,l and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a starting-rheostat, the combination with a ivoted spring-pressed controllinglever and a contact-clip mounted to receive said lever, of electromagnetic means operating upon said clip t0 maintainsaid lever Within its jaws.

2. In. a starting-rheostat, the combination width a pivoted spring-pressed controllinglever of a series of contact-clips mounted to successively receive said lever, and electromagnetic means operating upon one of said The lami- IOO clips for holding said lever 'within the clips.

to successively receive lever to vary the resistance, and electro-magnetic means operfttingnpon said contacte to detain said lever Within the clips,

f4. In a starting-rheostat, the combination *with a resistance anda Contact means for varjmg the same comprising a lived portion, a spring-pressed controlling-lever mounted for sliding'engagement-therewith and a movable portion, of electromagnetic means oper# ating upon said movable portion to retain saiclzlever in'any position of said engagement.

5. In a starting-rheostat, the eombination with a resistance and folding Contact means for varying the same, said. means comprising a fixed Contact portion7 a spring-pressed con- Y trollin -lever mounted for sliding enga ementt erewith and a pivoted portion yie dingly mounted for engagement with said zo lever, of electromagnetic means for fletaining eee the lever in any position 1netween theeontaet portions. A

6. ln a starting-rheostat, the combination with a resistance and folding Contact means lfor varying the same, said means comprising a fixed Contact portion, a spring-pressed pivoted controlling-lever mounted for sliding engagement therewith, and a series of springe pressed oontaetfstrips pivotally mounted for engagement with said lever, of eleotromagnetic means for detaining and releasing the lever in any position between the Contact portions.

in Witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of November, 1904.

DAVID MILLER.

Nitnesseez BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onronn. 

